Kidron Valley
Kidron Valley
4.5
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Separating the City of Jerusalem and Mount of Olives, this valley contains many ancient tombs such as those of Absalom, St. James, St. Zacharias and Jehoshaphat.
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SnowyShasta
Portland, OR2 429 contributions
Oct 2022
We visited Israel on a tour and had a few chances to see the Kidron Valley, which separates the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives, and also leads down towards the Biblical town of Bethany. As part of our tour, we stopped at an overlook to see the Valley falling away from Jerusalem, and also looked at it from vantages at the Church of Saint Peter Gallicantu and from Gethsemane. It is historic but I didn't feel that there were must-see items there, other than the general sense of place.
Written 12 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yonatan C
Ottawa, Canada52 contributions
Aug 2013 • Solo
In between visits to the many important buildings in both the Old and New Jerusalem which together comprise present day Jerusalem a visit to the Kidron Valley is as close to visiting biblical Jerusalem as one can get.
The first time I walked through the valley I met an elderly Arab tending a herd of goats ! Through hand gestures I asked if I could give the rest of the pastry I was eating to an inquisitive member of his flock . Smiling, he agreed. It was the highlight of my walk and set the tone for all furure trips here.
While easier to walk on, the new pathway detracts from the 'natural' feel that was present years ago before its installation. This past August coming in from the western end I saw some boys and a single goat up on the hills near scrub vegetation. This being said access is best from the Jericho end, south of Gethsemane. Never crowded, one is free to wander its length at one's own pace.
The tombs are awe inspiring up close and it is fun to try and reconstruct in one's mind how other graves and things must have looked. If possible walk as far as the Pool of Siloam and take in its signifigance if you are not planning on navigating to this spot from the Hezekiah's Tunnel tour.
Being in the valley and gazing up at both the Mount of Olives and the walls of the Old city gives one a sense of how very hilly the whole area was in the past before the accumulated detritus filled the valleys over the centuries. The grasping of this concept is of particular importance when one is walking within the Old city.
Wear sensible (and comfortable) running shoes and bring a hat and water on warm days or a warm jacket on cool ones as it is literally an uphill hike. But what a rush you get when you look back from the City of David and realize that you have just done what our ancient Prophets must have done on a regular basis on their way into the Old city. It being still further up yet another hill !
Read up on it's history and signifigance in advance. Ask for a map at the Jaffa Gate tourist office. Take many pictures as you will want to relive your adventure back home as you plan your return trip to Jerusalem.
The first time I walked through the valley I met an elderly Arab tending a herd of goats ! Through hand gestures I asked if I could give the rest of the pastry I was eating to an inquisitive member of his flock . Smiling, he agreed. It was the highlight of my walk and set the tone for all furure trips here.
While easier to walk on, the new pathway detracts from the 'natural' feel that was present years ago before its installation. This past August coming in from the western end I saw some boys and a single goat up on the hills near scrub vegetation. This being said access is best from the Jericho end, south of Gethsemane. Never crowded, one is free to wander its length at one's own pace.
The tombs are awe inspiring up close and it is fun to try and reconstruct in one's mind how other graves and things must have looked. If possible walk as far as the Pool of Siloam and take in its signifigance if you are not planning on navigating to this spot from the Hezekiah's Tunnel tour.
Being in the valley and gazing up at both the Mount of Olives and the walls of the Old city gives one a sense of how very hilly the whole area was in the past before the accumulated detritus filled the valleys over the centuries. The grasping of this concept is of particular importance when one is walking within the Old city.
Wear sensible (and comfortable) running shoes and bring a hat and water on warm days or a warm jacket on cool ones as it is literally an uphill hike. But what a rush you get when you look back from the City of David and realize that you have just done what our ancient Prophets must have done on a regular basis on their way into the Old city. It being still further up yet another hill !
Read up on it's history and signifigance in advance. Ask for a map at the Jaffa Gate tourist office. Take many pictures as you will want to relive your adventure back home as you plan your return trip to Jerusalem.
Written 10 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jojo
Navi Mumbai, India2 867 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
Witnessed several events related to Jesus the Church, having Black Dome reminisce of eye drops and divine alter very touching, being blessed.
Written 14 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Love2pioneer
Maple Ridge, Canada31 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
A deep valley that separates Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and runs first southeastward and then southward along the city.
It's was about a 15 min walk from the old city down into the valley up to the garden Gethsemane... it is a surreal feeling to realize you are walking where,
King David, when fleeing from rebellious Absalom, crossed the Kidron Valley on foot, up to the mount of Olives or the valley that Jesus traversed on his way to the garden of Gethsemane
It's was about a 15 min walk from the old city down into the valley up to the garden Gethsemane... it is a surreal feeling to realize you are walking where,
King David, when fleeing from rebellious Absalom, crossed the Kidron Valley on foot, up to the mount of Olives or the valley that Jesus traversed on his way to the garden of Gethsemane
Written 16 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China178 375 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Kidron Valley which is also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat is located between the Old City and the Mount of Olives.
You can take a walk down into the valley to view the monumental tombs of Bnei Hazir, Zechariah and Absalom and see the thousands of smaller Jewish tombs which make up the cemetery on the eastern side of the valley and up to Mount of Olives.
Alternatively, you can simply view the valley from the Old City Wall, the road just outside the Wall or from atop Mount of Olives.
If you plan to visit the Valley, you can combine with handful of attractions around the Mount of Olives as well as others at Mt. Zion. It is a good way to spend 1/2 to 3/4 of a day sightseeing outside the Old City Walls.
Note: You can access the Kidron Valley by way of the Lion (St. Stephen's) Gate on the east side of the Old City or by exiting Dung or Zion Gates to the south.
You can take a walk down into the valley to view the monumental tombs of Bnei Hazir, Zechariah and Absalom and see the thousands of smaller Jewish tombs which make up the cemetery on the eastern side of the valley and up to Mount of Olives.
Alternatively, you can simply view the valley from the Old City Wall, the road just outside the Wall or from atop Mount of Olives.
If you plan to visit the Valley, you can combine with handful of attractions around the Mount of Olives as well as others at Mt. Zion. It is a good way to spend 1/2 to 3/4 of a day sightseeing outside the Old City Walls.
Note: You can access the Kidron Valley by way of the Lion (St. Stephen's) Gate on the east side of the Old City or by exiting Dung or Zion Gates to the south.
Written 6 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kitty567
New York City, NY619 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
Although the Tomb of Absolom is in a desperate state, filled with construction and other garbage, it was nonetheless interesting to take a walk in this ancient cemetery.
We absolutely enjoyed getting out of the Old City (Dung gate, near the Western Wall) and taking a pleasant walk through the Valley. You can take as little as or long as you prefer for this nature walk.
Being armed with some information on the significance of this place definitely helps to get more out of the experience of being there.
Google some of the old photos of the site, quite interesting. Also, I have found the following sites informative:
http://www.itsgila.com/highlightsabsalom.htm
http://alt-arch.org/en/graveyard_metropolis/
http://tfba.co/content/index.php/projects/34-tomb-of-absalom
We absolutely enjoyed getting out of the Old City (Dung gate, near the Western Wall) and taking a pleasant walk through the Valley. You can take as little as or long as you prefer for this nature walk.
Being armed with some information on the significance of this place definitely helps to get more out of the experience of being there.
Google some of the old photos of the site, quite interesting. Also, I have found the following sites informative:
http://www.itsgila.com/highlightsabsalom.htm
http://alt-arch.org/en/graveyard_metropolis/
http://tfba.co/content/index.php/projects/34-tomb-of-absalom
Written 1 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J S
Bozeman, MT212 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
It's an awesome walk from the southern side of the Jerusalem old town (the Western Wall Plaza), down into the Kidron Valley and across to the Mount of Olives. Wear comfortable walking shoes and make sure you have several hours (maybe even a half day), and enjoy the walk through history!
Written 3 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
scphil21
Orange County, CA442 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Referred to in over half the books in the Bible, Kidron valley forms the eastern boundary of the city of David/old city of Jerusalem. The valley is completely undeveloped and presumably looks much the same as it did 2000 years ago. Across the valley are ancient jewish tombs since the dead could not be buried within the city. Higher up the Mount of Olives is the famous cemetery.
It is here that Jesus walked from the last supper to Gethsemane, then back after his arrest. They take their hills seriously here! Combined with the lack of sleep you can really understand how worn out he would have been during the proceedings the following day.
It is here that Jesus walked from the last supper to Gethsemane, then back after his arrest. They take their hills seriously here! Combined with the lack of sleep you can really understand how worn out he would have been during the proceedings the following day.
Written 30 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ramsey S
Ipswich, United Kingdom80 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
I understand that history describes the valley as full of olive trees etc, but it is now sadly just a huge grave yard, on one side its a Jewish cemetery, and on the other a Muslim one.
Alas, it is a place to visit as it is full of history, and there are a couple of historical tombs that are actually worth visiting!
Alas, it is a place to visit as it is full of history, and there are a couple of historical tombs that are actually worth visiting!
Written 1 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy F
859 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This is a historic landmark and should be visited if your touring Israel. Just a short walk from the Garden of Gethsemane you can view the Kidron Valley. It's a must see place.
Written 26 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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